U.S. patent application number 14/022905 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-13 for section knife.
This patent application is currently assigned to ALAMO GROUP, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is Mark Alan Collins, Harry C. Deckler, JR.. Invention is credited to Mark Alan Collins, Harry C. Deckler, JR..
Application Number | 20140069249 14/022905 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50231877 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140069249 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Collins; Mark Alan ; et
al. |
March 13, 2014 |
Section Knife
Abstract
A section knife is formed from a blank having the perimeter of a
truncated generally isosceles triangle. Each angled side of the
truncated generally isosceles triangle includes a plurality of
substantially semi-circular channels. The long axis of each
substantially semi-circular channel is substantially parallel to
the base of the truncated generally isosceles triangle. The top of
the substantially semi-circular channel intersects the front
surface of the section knife. The bottom of the substantially
semi-circular channel intersects the back surface of the section
knife. A cutting edge is formed at the intersection of the
substantially semi-circular channel and the back surface of the
section knife.
Inventors: |
Collins; Mark Alan; (Swan,
IA) ; Deckler, JR.; Harry C.; (Indianola,
IA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Collins; Mark Alan
Deckler, JR.; Harry C. |
Swan
Indianola |
IA
IA |
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
ALAMO GROUP, INC.
Seguin
TX
|
Family ID: |
50231877 |
Appl. No.: |
14/022905 |
Filed: |
September 10, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61699577 |
Sep 11, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
83/651 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01D 34/13 20130101;
B26D 1/45 20130101; Y10T 83/929 20150401; B26D 2001/006 20130101;
B24B 19/02 20130101; B24B 3/586 20130101; B24B 3/361 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
83/651 |
International
Class: |
B26D 1/45 20060101
B26D001/45 |
Claims
1. A section knife comprising: a substantially flat metal blank
having a front surface and a back surface; said flat blank metal
formed having a perimeter substantially in the form of a truncated
generally isosceles triangle with a thickened base and angled
sides, said angled sides extending away from said thickened base;
said angled sides including a plurality of substantially
semi-circular channels, each of said substantially semi-circular
channels having a long axis, said long axis being substantially
parallel to said thickened base and extending from said back
surface to said front surface.
2. The section knife as defined in claim 1 wherein the intersection
of said substantially semi-circular channel and said back surface
forms a cutting edge.
3. The section knife as defined in claim 1 wherein each
substantially semi-circular channel is separated from an adjacent
substantially semi-circular channel by a ridge.
4. The section knife as defined in claim 1 wherein said thickened
base includes at least one mounting hole.
5. The section knife as defined in claim 1 wherein said angled
sides contain from about three substantially semi-circular channels
per inch to about twelve substantially semi-circular channels per
inch.
6. The section knife as defined in claim 1 wherein V-shaped
channels are interspersed between said substantially semi-circular
channels.
7. The section knife as defined in claim 1 wherein said angled
sides are arcuate and form a generally concave edge.
8. The section knife as defined in claim 1 wherein all or a portion
of the outer surface of the section knife is coated with a
low-friction polymer.
9. The section knife as defined in claim 1 wherein all or a portion
of the outer surface of the section knife has a hardened area.
10. A section knife as defined in claim 1 wherein a second section
knife is joined at the edge of said thickened base.
11. A section knife made according to a process comprising: forming
a metal blank having a back surface and a front surface and a
perimeter in the form of a truncated generally isosceles triangle,
said truncated isosceles triangle having a thickened base and
angled sides; engaging said angled sides with a forming tool to
create substantially semi-circular channels, said substantially
semi-circular channels being oriented substantially parallel to
said thickened base, said substantially semi-circular channels
running from said back surface to said front surface.
12. The section knife made according to the process defined in
claim 11 further including grinding said back surface to form a
cutting edge at the intersection of said substantially
semi-circular channel and said back surface.
13. The section knife made according to the process defined in
claim 11 wherein said angled edges contain from about three
substantially semi-circular channels per inch to about twelve
substantially semi- circular channels per inch.
14. The section knife made according to the process defined in
claim 11 wherein all or a portion of the outer surface of said
section knife is coated with another metal.
15. A section knife made according to a process comprising: forming
a metal blank having a back surface and a front surface and a
perimeter in the form of a truncated generally isosceles triangle,
said truncated isosceles triangle having a thickened base and
angled sides; engaging said angled sides with a cutting tool to
create substantially semi-circular channels, said substantially
circular channels being oriented substantially parallel to said
thickened base, said substantially semi-circular channels running
from said front surface to said back surface.
16. The section knife made according to the process defined in
claim 15 further including grinding said back surface to form a
cutting edge at the intersection of said substantially
semi-circular channel and said back surface.
17. The section knife made according to the process defined in
claim 15 wherein said angled sides contain from about three
substantially semi-circular channels per inch to about twelve
substantially semi- circular channels per inch.
18. The section knife made according to the process defined in
claim 15 wherein all or a portion of the outer surface of the
section knife is coated with another metal.
19. A section knife made according to a process comprising: forming
a metal blank having a front surface and a back surface and the
perimeter of a truncated generally isosceles triangle, said
truncated isosceles triangle having a thickened base and angled
sides, said angled sides further including substantially
semi-circular channels oriented substantially parallel to said
thickened base, said substantially semi-circular channels running
from said front surface to said back surface; grinding said back
surface of said formed metal blank to form a sharpened surface at
the intersection of said substantially semi-circular channel and
said back surface.
20. The section knife as defined in claim 1 wherein the
cross-section of said substantially semi-circular channels is
selected from a group of shapes including half-hexagonal,
half-octagonal and half-oval.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of Provisional
U.S. Patent Application No. 61/699,577 filed Sep. 11, 2012.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
[0002] The invention described in this patent application was not
the subject of federally sponsored research or development.
FIELD
[0003] The present invention pertains to a section knife used with
agricultural machinery such as a combine harvester, a mower
conditioner, a swather, a sickle mower as well as any hay or forage
harvesting equipment which uses a reciprocating cutting mechanism
to cut or harvest a variety of different crops such as cereal
grains, hay, soy beans, irrigated grasses and field grasses.
BACKGROUND
[0004] Section knives have been used for many years in mechanized
farm machinery employing a reciprocating cutting mechanism to cut a
variety of different crops. A prior art section knife 110 is shown
in FIG. 1. Therein it may be seen that a typical prior art section
knife has the perimeter of a truncated, generally isosceles
triangle with a thickened base 114. On the angled edges 112, which
extend upwardly from the thickened base 114, are a plurality of
points 116. The points 116 are separated by V-shaped channels 118.
The intersection 119 of the V-shaped channel 118 with the back
surface 120 of the section knife 110 is sharpened to enable the
cutting of the vegetable matter encountered by the sharpened edge
119 of the moving section knife 110.
[0005] Prior art section knives 110 must be changed frequently as
the sharpened edge 119 becomes dull with frequent use. As the
sharpened edge 119 loses its sharpness, the section knife 110 must
absorb greater impact forces. Such greater impact forces often
cause the section knives to break.
[0006] Various attempts have been made to extend the service life
of section knives to include coating the section knives with metals
known for their toughness or hardening the sharpened edge of the
section knife using a variety of different metallurgical processes.
Unfortunately, such coating or metallurgical treating of prior art
knives have increased the cost of section knives and have only
achieved limited success.
[0007] Accordingly, a current need remains in the art to provide a
section knife which properly cuts the vegetable matter it
encounters, has an increased service life, thereby reducing the
cost to maintain the mechanized equipment on which the section
knife is mounted, and can be manufactured for essentially the same
cost as prior art section knives.
SUMMARY
[0008] The unique geometry of the section knife of the present
invention enables both the proper cutting of the vegetation
encountered by the section knife and an increased service life.
[0009] The section knife of the present invention is made from a
metal blank. The metal blank has both a back surface and a front
surface. The perimeter of the metal blank is in the form of a
truncated, generally isosceles triangle with a thickened base. The
top point of the isosceles triangle is removed so the form of the
metal blank is called a truncated, generally isosceles triangle for
the purpose of this patent application. The thickened base of the
truncated, generally isosceles triangle includes one or more
mounting holes for connecting the section knife to a piece of
machinery. Contiguous with the thickened base of the truncated,
generally isosceles triangle are angled edges. Along each angled
edge are formed substantially semi-circular channels. The long axis
of each substantially semi-circular channel is substantially
parallel to the thickened base portion of truncated, generally
isosceles triangle shaped blank. Each substantially semi-circular
channel intersects both the front and back surfaces of the blank.
It is the intersection of the substantially semi-circular channel
with the back surface of the blank forms a cutting edge on the
section knife.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0010] A still better understanding of the section knife of the
present invention may be had by reference to the drawing figures
wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a prior art section knife;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the
section knife of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2A is a view in partial section along line A-A of FIG.
2;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the front of a section knife
blank before formation of the substantially semi-circular channels
on each angled edge;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing illustrating the step of
cutting the substantially semi-circular channel with a grinding or
milling tool along the angled edge on one side of the section knife
blank;
[0016] FIG. 4A is a schematic drawing illustrating the step of
forming the substantially semi-circular channel with a crush roller
or a forming die on one side of the section knife blank;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of the
section knife of the present invention wherein the angled edges on
either side of the section knife include a concave portion;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a second alternate embodiment
of the section knife of the present invention wherein the
substantially semi-circular channels are interspersed between
groups of V-shaped channels; and
[0019] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a third alternate embodiment of
the section knife of the present invention where individual section
knives are joined together at their thickened base.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0020] As indicated in the BACKGROUND portion of this patent
application, section knives are used on various types of mechanical
equipment using a reciprocating cutting mechanism to cut the stems
or stalks of a wide variety of commercial crops. As the cutting
equipment with the section knives mounted thereon moves through a
field, the sharpened edges of the moving section knives encounter
friction from a variety of sources. This friction causes the
cutting edge of the section knife to lose its sharpness and thereby
reduces the ability of the section knife to cut through vegetable
matter such as plant stems or stalks. A dull section knife
experiences greater forces and thereby becomes more subject to
breakage. Accordingly, the dull section knives on the cutting
equipment must be periodically replaced. The design of the section
knife of the present invention has shown itself to be
self-sharpening, thereby enabling the cutting of vegetable matter
for a longer period of time than prior art section knives.
[0021] A top plan view of the section knife 10 of the present
invention is shown in FIG. 2. Like some prior art section knives,
the section knife 10 of the present invention generally has the
perimeter of a truncated, generally isosceles triangle with a
thickened base 12. Two angled edges 14 are contiguous with the
thickened base 12 and extend upwardly and away from the thickened
base 12 toward the top truncated portion 16 of the section knife
10.
[0022] The difference in the section knife 10 of the present
invention from prior art section knives 110 is best seen in FIG.
2A. Therein it may be seen that the channels 20 formed in the
angled edges 14 of the section knife 10 of the present invention
have a substantially semi-circular half round, or half-circle
shape. Further, the long axis of the substantially semi-circular
shaped channel 20 is substantially parallel to the thickened base
12 of the truncated, generally isosceles triangle perimeter of the
section knife 10. By use of the term "substantially parallel", it
has been found that if the long axis of the substantially
semi-circular channel 20 is up to 10 degrees away from being
perfectly parallel with the thickened base 12 of the truncated,
generally isosceles triangle perimeter of the section knife 10, the
section knife 10 will still operate in a satisfactory manner.
[0023] The term "substantially semi-circular" as used herein to
describe the shape of channel 20 shall also include a
half-hexagonal, a half-octagonal or a half-oval cross section. It
is the intersection of the substantially semi-circular channel 20
with the back surface 22 of the section knife 10 that provides the
cutting edge 24 which contacts the stem or stalk of a plant. The
top of the substantially semi-circular channel 20 intersects the
front surface 26 of the section knife 10. Between the substantially
semi-circular channels 20 are ridges 28 which separate the
substantially semi-circular channels 20 one from another along the
angled edges 14 of the section knife 10.
[0024] A still better understanding of the section knife 10 of the
present invention may be had by understanding the method of its
manufacture. The manufacturing process begins with a blank 50
having the perimeter of a truncated, generally isosceles triangle
as shown in FIG. 3. This blank 50 is then formed to include
substantially semi-circular channels 20 whose long axis is
substantially parallel to the thickened base 54 of the blank 50
having the perimeter of a truncated, generally isosceles
triangle.
[0025] The substantially semi-circular channels 20 may be formed by
a variety of different methods shown, in general, in FIG. 4. For
example, a metal cutting tool, such as a grinding tool or side mill
60 or a tool including a set of multiple grinding tools or side
mill 60, may be used to pass over the straight angled edge 52 of
the blank 50. The path of the metal cutting tool 60 is
substantially parallel to the base 54 of the truncated, generally
isosceles triangle. Such path enables the grinding tool or side
mill 60 to cut a substantially semi-circular channel 20 in the
angled edge 52 of the blank 50 which substantially semi-circular
channel 20 has a long axis substantially parallel to the thickened
base 54 of the blank 50.
[0026] Other methods of forming the substantially semi-circular
channels 20 whose long axis is parallel to the thickened base 54 of
blank 50 may be used. Thus, instead of cutting the angled edge 52
of a blank 50 with a grinding tool or side mill 60, the
substantially semi-circular channels 20 may be formed by stamping
die or forcing a circular die such as a crush roller 65, shown in
FIG. 4A, into the straight angled edges 52 of the blank 50.
[0027] When the substantially semi-circular channels 20 have been
either formed or cut into the angled edges of a blank, the back
surface of the blank 50 may be ground to sharpen the cutting edge
24 at the intersection of the bottom of the substantially
semi-circular channel 20 and the back surface 22 of the blank 50.
While, in the preferred embodiment, the back surface 22 of the
blank 50 is ground to be smooth, grooves may be ground into the
back surface of the blank 50. Such grooves may be helpful when
cutting particular types of crops.
[0028] As section knives 10 are used on a variety of different
pieces of equipment, one or more holes 30 may be formed in the body
of thickened base 12 of the section knife 10. The size and spacing
of the holes 30 in the body of thickened base 12 of the section
knife 10 depends on the construction of the support structure to
which the section knife 10 is mounted.
[0029] It has been found that when making the section knife 10 of
the present invention, the number of substantially semi-circular
grooves 20 formed in the angled edges 14 of the section knife 10
may vary between about three substantially semi-circular channels
per inch to about twelve substantially semi-circular channels per
inch. A larger number of substantially semi-circular channels per
inch work best with crops having stems with a small diameter.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 5, it is also possible to form
substantially semi-circular channels 74 in a section knife 70 whose
angled edges 72 are formed to include a generally accurate or
concave portion.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 6, substantially circular channels 84 may
be interspersed between channels having other shapes in a second
alternate embodiment of the section knife 80. For example, V-shaped
channels are similar to those shown in FIG. 1 are shown in FIG.
6.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 7, two or more section knives 10 may be
joined together at the thickened base 12 to form a third alternate
embodiment of the section knife 90.
[0033] Once the section knife 10 has been formed and, if needed,
sharpened by grinding the bottom surface 22 of the section knife
10, the completed section knife 10 may be coated with another metal
whose wear or corrosion resistance further increases the life of
the section knife 10. Alternatively, the completed section knife 10
may be treated metallurgically to increase its service life.
Further, another alternative is to coat the section knife of the
present invention with a wear-resistant or low-friction polymer
coating.
[0034] Yet another manufacturing method may include casting a blank
having the perimeter of a truncated, generally isosceles triangle
wherein the edges of the cast blank include substantially
semi-circular channels whose long axes are substantially parallel
to the thickened base of the truncated, generally isosceles
triangle. After being cast, the cast blank with substantially
semi-circular channels formed therein may then be sharpened by
grinding the bottom surface of the cast blank and/or the surface of
the substantially semi-circular channel.
[0035] Use and testing of the section knife of the present
invention have revealed the following advantages. The unique
geometry of the substantially semi-circular channels which extend
from the front surface of the section knife to the back surface of
the section knife makes it self-sharpening. In addition to being
self-sharpening, the section knife of the present invention enables
a relatively smooth or straight cut of the vegetable matter as
opposed to the ragged cut made by many prior art section knives.
Such smooth or straight cut produces quicker re-growth of a plant
than re-growth when there is a ragged cut.
[0036] In addition to enabling the cutting of cereal grains, soy
beans, hay and grasses, the unique geometry of the section knife of
the present invention has found applicability in other applications
such as the cutting of tomato plant stems or stalks just under the
surface of the soil. In addition, the section knife of the present
invention may be used for the cutting the stems or stalks of
aquatic plants.
[0037] While the section knife of the present invention has been
described according to its preferred and alternate embodiments,
those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that additional
modifications and changes may be made to the disclosed section
knife. Such modifications and changes shall fall within the scope
and meaning of the appended claims.
* * * * *